CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The 15th-ranked Vanderbilt women’s tennis team fell in its its first consolation match of the 2014 ITA National Team Indoor Championship against No. 9 University of Miami, 4-3, at the Boar’s Head Sports Club in Charlottesville, Va.
“This was a tough one,” said VU head coach Geoff Macdonald. “We came out flat in doubles, and you just can’t do that when you’re playing a team of this caliber. However, I think we’ve been playing very good at our singles positions. Both UNC and Miami were elite eight teams last year and we are just coming up one match short. We are going to regroup and get ready to play tomorrow.”
The 9th-ranked Hurricanes quickly won the doubles point over the Commodores, winning at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions.
No. 29 Monique Albuquerque and Clementina Riobueno won 6-4, over Ashleigh Antal and Lauren Mira at the No. 1 position. Courtney Colton and Marie Casares lost at No. 2, 6-4.
Trailing 1-0 going into singles, the Commodores got into even more of a hole, losing at both No. 1 and No. 2 singles.
Mira was knocked off by 32nd-ranked Stephanie Wagner in straight sets, four and one. No. 48 Georgina Sellyn was upset at the No. 2 position by 64th-ranked Kelsey Laurente, 6-2, 6-4.
Vanderbilt stormed back winning the next three singles matches at No. 6, 4 and 5. Casares and Frances Altick won in straight sets, at six and four, respectively.
After dropping her first set 7-5, No. 102 Antal won her second set tiebreak to force a third set super breaker. In the third set Antal pulled it out, 10-7, to set up a clinching situation at No. 3 singles.
Colton, who had already dropped her first set 7-5, need to split and then win the third set breaker at the time Antal won her match.
The Vandy sophomore couldn’t quite pull it out, falling 6-4 in the second set.
Vanderbilt will face No. 13 Clemson at 8 a.m. ET, in its final match at the National Indoor Championship.
Last season the Commodores lost to the Tigers in the second round of the NCAA tournament, 4-2. Vandy won the doubles point, and picked up a win at No. 4 with Casares.
#9 Miami 4, #15 Vanderbilt 3
Singles competition
1. #32 Stephanie Wagner (MIA) def. #61 Lauren Mira (VU) 6-4, 6-1
2. #64 Kelsey Laurente (MIA) def. #48 Georgina Sellyn (VU) 6-2, 6-4
3. Lina Lileikite (MIA) def. Courtney Colton (VU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Frances Altick (VU) def. Clementina Riobueno (MIA) 6-2, 6-4
5. #102 Ashleigh Antal (VU) def. Monique Albuquerque (MIA) 5-7, 7-6, 10-7
6. Marie Casares (VU) def. Melissa Bolivar (MIA) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #29 Monique Albuquerque/Clementina Riobueno (MIA) def. Ashleigh Antal/Lauren Mira (VU) 6-3
2. Kelsey Laurente/Melissa Bolivar (MIA) def. Courtney Colton/Marie Casares (VU) 6-4
3. Frances Altick/Georgina Sellyn (VU) vs. #55 Brittany Dubins/Stephanie Wagner (MIA) 3-4, unfinished
Match Notes:
Miami 4-1; National ranking #9
Vanderbilt 3-2; National ranking #15
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,2,6,4,5,3)
